Flexible connecter



Aug. 16, 1932.

cfa. SHORT FLEXIBLE CONNECTER maman.l 14. 192e ik if "zg flttofmuf A Patented .16, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- enum n. snoer, or nzafrnorr, moment, Assrexoa 'ro :ma rnLAND lumine- 'reame conm. or DAYTON, omo, A coaroaarron or nnmwm FLEXIBLE CONNECTER Application mea January 14, '1926. amai rm. einen.'

This invention relates to iexible connecters adapted -for use as substitutes for spring shackles, torque arm connections and the like.

Its object 1s to avoid wear in lexible con- I necters adjacent the areas where they arey clamped or otherwise secured to the parts to be connected; to rendersuch connecters elastic, and to equalize the strains on the connecter whenever more force is applied at one edge than to another, or to certain of thel strands than to others when the connecter comprises a plurality of strands.

. The invention consists in the combinations and details ofconstruction more fully fle- 4 16 scribed hereinafter and illustrated in the aocompanying drawing.

In the drawing: Fig. 1 is a side elevation illustrating aconnecter made in accordance with this invention, functioning as a spring shackle in a. vehicle chassis;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing a spring connecter, attached as in Fig: 1, on an'enlar d scale; lineHoFigl; A

` Fig. 4 is a view of a modiiied form of the invention which may function either as a sprin or a torque arm connecter. so In ig. 1, 10 indicates a side sill of an automobile frame; 11 a front axle; 12 a leaf spring, the middle portion of which is mounted on said axle 11; 13 the pivotal connection of the iront end of said spring with the front end of the sill 10; 14 a'bracket bolted to the sill 10 to which the connecter designated as a whole by the numeral 15 is attached adjacent one end, the other end being attached to the rear end of the s ring.

In the illustrate embodiment the connecter 15n comprises iexible material preferably made of spun or laid cords or cord fabric formed into an endless band, as indicated in the drawing, with the cords or warp yarns wise of the connecter. The flexible material is designated 16 in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The endless band may be folded so that two plies are in contact at least for portions of its length. As shown' in Figs. 1,2 and 3 the two ig. 3 is an enlarged cross section on the substantially parallel and extending lengthplies are Ain contact at the portions designated 17 and 17a. The portion 17 as shown in Fig. 2 is clamped between the upturned end 18 of the-long leaf'of spring 12 anda clamping plate 19. Suitable clamping bolts 20 pass through perforations inthe flange 18, plate 19 and portion 17 of the connecter for the purpose of clampin said ortion 17 between the clamping suraces o the iiange 18 and-plate 19. The portion 17a is similarly clamped between a surface 21 on the bracket 14 and a plate 22, by the bolts 23.

In order to remove some of the strain from theclamps and bolts, 'the looped ends 24 of the connecter are caused to extend above the ql'irper clamp and below the lower clamp.

ithin the loops, plugs 25 are inserted. These plugs may be of any suitable material such as rubber, wood, vulcanite or non-corrosive metal. The enlarged portions formed b the plugs 25 inserted in the loops 24 insure t e strength of the joint between the con` neter an the clamps and obviate any frayed en s.

F or the purpose of preventing chalin and cutting of the fabric by the ed es o the clamping means, a lling of suita le elastic material is inserted as at 26, between the fabric of the connecter and the adiacent metallic parts which are flared. This antichaing filling may be made of pure elastic rubber and may be inserted'so as to be under compression w en the midlane of the connecter is straight from en to end. As the connecter sways and swings during use the fillings 26 will deform under pressure and recovertheir position when the preure is released. By the use of these fillers, chang is'prevented between the metal and fabric and the entrance of it and water rendered substantially impossi le.

When the ilexible material 16 is composed of spunlor other fiber, thegyarns, cords or :fabric are preferably impregnated with rub ber. Those portions at 17 and 17 a which are held between the clamps are preferably cured hard and the other portions cured soft. Thus the parts that have to sustain the pressure of the clamps are made relatively unyielding for purposes of security and resistance to Tf? 'tti se s' moisture, but merge into soft and flexible Yas portions which yield to the relative movements of the connected parts.

Although the material 16 is flexible, it is relatively unstretchable and inelastic. In order to render the connection elastic the flexible relatively unstretchable material surrounds an elastic deformable mass between the clamps, leaving a portion of the surface area of said mass unconlined so that the mass may deform in response to pressure applied by the flexible material under strains. In the form shown, the two plies of the flexible material are separated and deflected between the clamps by a mass 27 of elastic rubber or equivalent deformable elastic material. The ends of the mass 27 are unconined and free to bulge endwise when the mass is deformed by tension applied to the flexible material. By this construction it will be ap arent that' if the spring 12, for example, is sgewed with respect to the frame as might occur when the frame of the vehicle is tilted, so that more pull is applied to the strands at one edge of the connecter than to those at the other, yet the strains will be distributed to all of the strands by reason of the elastic deformation of the mass 27. rl`he mass 27 is intended to be vulcanized or cured in place with the impregnated strands, fabric or iexible material 16. In the same manner the plugs 25 may be united, if desired, to the loops 24, which, it will be understood, are also impregnated preferably with a rubber compound.

The construction shown in Fig. 4, is particularly well adapted to be used where relative movement is intended to be resisted .in

two opposite directions. In this gure, 14a indicates a bracket having projecting por tions each of which has a clampin surface 30 and 30a respectively. A flexi le band preferably made of cords or cord fabric wound or woven into a continuous band similarly as described in connection with the material 16 is indicated by the numeral 31. This band is folded so as to bring the two plies together as at 32 and 32a, loops 33 being allowed to project above the portion 32 and below the portion 32a. The loops 33 are intended to be filled by a plug 34 as in the form previously described. Midway between the portions 32 and 32a the plies are similarly brought into contact as shown at 35. The portion 32 is clamped to the surface 30 by means of a clamping plate 36` and clamping bolts 37. Likewise the portion 32a is clamped to the surface 30a by means of a clamping plate 38 secured to the surface 30a by means of clamping bolts 39.

The part 35 is clamped to a clamping sur! face 40 on the end of a spring or torque arm 41 by means of a clamping plate 42 which is secured to thc member 41 by bolts 43.

The portions 32. 32a and 35 are hard and unyielding so as to resist wear and compression and avoid the absorption of water.

The entire material or fabric 31 is impregnated with a rubber' composition which 1s cured hard at the portions 32, 32a and 35, the hard portion merging into relatively soft and yielding portions between said hard portions. Masses of elastic rubber or equivalent elastic deformable material 44 are arranged between the plies of the material 31 and preferably vulcanized thereto. These masses of rubber are preferably. circular in cross section and are unconfined at their ends. As a result of this cross section in whatever way the masses 44 are deformed, they will tend to tighten the connection between them and the fabric 31 and therefore avoid separating of the fabric and rubber mass under repeated flexing, tension and compression movements.

Fillings of soft rubber or like material 26 are applied between the flaring edges of the clamps and the fabric as in the form shown I tions is obviated. The strains are not re' sisted by a mere clamp or bolted connection. The form is such that the strains to which the connecter is subjected tend to more rmly unite the rubber or elastic material with the fabric envelope so that there is no tendency for the rubber and fabric to separate.

Although the drawing shows and the specificatlon describes a particular embodiment which is the best form of the invention now known to me, it is to be understood that it is not intended that the invention shall be limited to the specific construction illustrated and described, but only by the appending claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

1. In means for flexibly connecting two members, a connecter comprising flexible fibrous material, clamping means engaging a portion of the materia for securing the `connecter to at least one cfg-the members to be connected, and elastic 'filling interposed between the edges of the clamping means and the adjacent surfaces of the connecter.

2. A flexible connecter for connecting two spaced relatively movable parts, comprising: a liexible molded unit having two subleo stantially non-stretchable rubberized fabric webs having-mutually contacting 'spaced drical rubber block.V l

In testimony whereof I ax my si ature.

CHARLES R. SH RT.`

unconfined end areas, whereby anyv de ormation of said molded unit causes the fabric to bindfmore tightly upon 'said cylm 

